Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent negotiations it has had with the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on imposing a Public Service Obligation in respect of the Inverness to Gatwick air links.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ministers and officials have met, and have had discussions with, their counterparts at the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions on a regular basis to promote the case for measures to secure access to Gatwick for the Inverness air service.

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has made a positive submission to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions in connection with the possible imposition of a Public Service Obligation in respect of the Inverness to Gatwick air links as supported by the former Minister for Transport and Planning and, if so, whether that submission will be published and made available to all Highlands and Islands MSPs.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish ministers fully supported the case presented by the Highland Council   in support of measures to secure access to Gatwick for the Inverness air service. The publication of the case is a matter for the council.

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to be able to announce a decision on the possible imposition of a Public Service Obligation in respect of the Inverness to Gatwick air links.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive expects the UK Government to announce a decision on the case for the imposition of measures to secure access to Gatwick for the Inverness air service after they have been given it full and proper consideration.

Air Services

Mrs Margaret Ewing (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an intervention by Her Majesty’s Government is possible under EC Regulation 2408/92 in order to ensure the continuation of the Inverness to Gatwick air link.

Lewis Macdonald: Yes.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made of the cost to the NHS of treating autism and Asperger’s syndrome over a patient’s lifetime.

Hugh Henry: No.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made of the costs to education services nationally of autism and Asperger’s syndrome over the lifetime of a person with these conditions.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-18479 on 15 October 2001.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any estimates have been made of the costs to social services of caring for people with autism and Asperger’s syndrome over their lifetimes.

Hugh Henry: No.

Autism

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any specific funding has been allocated for respite care for carers and parents of children and adults with autism or Asperger’s syndrome and, if so, to which organisations it was allocated and how much was allocated in each year since 1998-99.

Hugh Henry: Local authorities and NHS boards provide respite services in response to local need. The Executive has been providing substantially increased levels of resources for social care year on year since 1998-99. Under our Carer's Strategy we are making available £10 million a year to local authorities, specifically for services to support carers, including respite. Authorities are also being given substantial new resources to provide an extra 22,000 weeks of short break services each year across Scotland by 2003-04. Authorities decide how best to use all these resources in consultation with carers, service users and their representatives.

Boundaries

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that any changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies made by Her Majesty’s Government will not lead to a reorganisation of local government boundaries in Scotland.

Peter Peacock: The Executive has made it clear in the consultation paper on Renewing Local Democracy: The Next Steps published on 27 March that there are no plans to review local authority boundaries or to reduce the number of councils in the foreseeable future.

Boundaries

Alex Johnstone (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that any changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies will not pre-determine the nature of any changes to local government boundaries in Scotland.

Peter Peacock: It will be for the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland to determine the nature of any changes to local authority boundaries, including the impact of any changes to the boundaries of parliamentary constituencies, when they are next reviewed.

Business

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average quarterly start-up rate of new businesses was between (a) the first quarter of 1995 and the third quarter of 1999 and (b) the third quarter of 1999 and the latest date for which figures are available, and what the explanation is for any reduction in the start-up rate of new businesses between these dates.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The following table shows the number of new VAT registrations relative to the adult population for the years since 1995. VAT registrations provide the primary official data on business starts and only annual figures are available.

  VAT registrations in Scotland

  

 

Annual Registrations per 10,000 adults 
  



1995 
  

27 
  



1996 
  

27 
  



1997 
  

30 
  



1998 
  

29 
  



1999 
  

28 
  



2000 
  

28 
  



average 1995-1999 
  

28 
  



average 1999-2000 
  

28 
  



  The Committee of Scottish Clearing Bankers produces figures for the number of new business accounts opened with their members. In the period 1995 Q1 to 1999 Q3 the average number of new accounts per quarter was 13.7 per 10,000 adults in Scotland. In the period 1999 Q3 to 2001 Q4 the average rate was 10.4 per 10,000 adults.

  There is no single explanation for the change in the rate but it will be strongly influenced by, among other things, the rate of growth in the economy.

Child Welfare

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place to protect the children of parents who misuse drugs.

Dr Richard Simpson: Guidance was issued in 1998, Protecting Children-A Shared Responsibility , which sets out how agencies and professionals should work together to protect children from abuse and neglect, and to safeguard and promote their welfare. The Executive also issued further guidance for consultation – Getting Our Priorities Right - in September 2001, which includes guidance to local agencies on preparing policies for the support of drug misusing parents and their children.

  With effect from 1 April 2001, the Executive has committed £7 million per annum for three years through the Changing Childrens Services Fund for drugs projects tailored towards children, including support for those whose parents misuse drugs. On 8 February, the Minister for Education announced the allocation of £2 million over three years to Lloyds TSB Foundation to support vulnerable children and young people affected by drug misuse.

Child Welfare

Janis Hughes (Glasgow Rutherglen) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategies are in place for partnership working between agencies providing support for drug misusers where children are involved.

Dr Richard Simpson: The Executive has set a national standard that all Drug Action Teams and Child Protection Committees should have in place local policies on support to drug misusing parents and their children, in line with national guidance, by 2002. The national guidance is set out in Getting our Priorities Right – I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-24225 today.

  The Executive will be monitoring the Drug Action Team Corporate Action Plans to assess what progress has been made towards this standard. Child Protection Committees will continue to monitor and review local inter-agency child protection procedures on a regular basis.

Cremation

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the cost of burning the organs of a deceased child which have been removed without parental consent or legal authority is met by the NHS.

Malcolm Chisholm: In response to recommendations from phase one of the work of the independent Review Group on the Retention of Organs at Post-Mortem, the Executive issued guidance in January 2001 to all Scottish NHS trusts indicating that they should, in appropriate cases, meet the expenses associated with the burial or cremation of organs retained at post-mortem examination without the parents’ authorisation.

Crofting

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is essential for the future of crofting in the Western Isles that there be a locally-based abattoir facility.

Ross Finnie: In the interests of sustainable farming, it is important for all producers to have profitable markets for the livestock that they produce, whether that is abattoirs or other farmers who finish the animals. Around two-thirds of livestock from the Western Isles is currently sold to buyers elsewhere in the UK and it is in the best interest of Western Isles producers that the abattoirs that buy their livestock are commercially viable, irrespective of where they are based.

Dental Health

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Chief Dental Officer for Scotland (CDO) has decided that when sedation is used in the NHS by a dentist or an anaesthetist the sedation is limited to the use of a single drug; if so, under what authority the CDO acted in this matter and whether such action was contrary to any General Dental Council Guidelines on the sedation of patients.

Malcolm Chisholm: More than one sedation agent may be used when intravenous sedation is administered by a dentist or an anaesthetist in an NHS hospital setting, where there is immediate access to appropriately trained personnel and equipment in case of emergencies. In general dental practices where NHS general dental services are offered, a single sedation agent is advised for purposes of patient safety.

  The Chief Dental Officer advises Scottish ministers on all dental matters which are devolved, including dental sedation in the NHS.

  The General Dental Council’s ethical guidance Maintaining Standards gives a general guideline on how sedation should be administered. It is not specific in relation to setting or technique.

Dental Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a shortage of consultants in maxillofacial and oral surgery and, if so, what the shortage is, broken down by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The latest available information from ISD Scotland indicates that there were three consultant vacancies in the specialty of oral surgery, one each in Dumfries and Galloway, Forth Valley and Grampian. This information is as at 30 September 2000 and includes maxillofacial surgeons.

Dental Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many patients are currently on the waiting list for maxillofacial and oral surgery in (a) Scotland and (b) each NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The number of patients waiting for hospital admission for in-patient and day case treatment in the specialty of oral surgery, by NHS board of residence, on 31 December 2001, is given in the following table.

  NHSScotland: Number Of Patients Waiting For Hospital Admission For In-patient/Day Case Treatment In The Specialty Of Oral Surgery1 On 31 December 2001. By NHS Board Of Residence.

  


NHS Board 
  

Number of Patients 
  



Argyll and Clyde 
  

92 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

322 
  



Borders 
  

69 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

78 
  



Fife 
  

391 
  



Forth Valley 
  

65 
  



Grampian 
  

403 
  



Greater Glasgow 
  

213 
  



Highland 
  

106 
  



Lanarkshire 
  

211 
  



Lothian 
  

165 
  



Orkney 
  

29 
  



Shetland 
  

8 
  



Tayside 
  

115 
  



Western Isles 
  

3 
  



Others/Not Known 
  

12 
  



Scotland 
  

2,282 
  



  Source: ISD Scotland, SMR3.

  Note:

  1. Includes Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dental Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) target waiting time and (b) average waiting time is for patients on the waiting list for maxillofacial and oral surgery to receive a first appointment with a consultant in (i) Scotland and (ii) each NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: The median waiting times for a first out-patient appointment with a consultant in oral surgery, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner or General Dental Practitioner, by NHS board of residence, in the year ended 30 September 2001, is given in the following table.

  The target waiting time for a first out-patient appointment with a Consultant, following referral by a General Medical Practitioner or General Dental Practitioner is 9 weeks.

  NHSScotland: Median Waiting Times For A First Out-patient Appointment With A Consultant In Oral Surgery1, Following Referral By A General Medical Practitioner/General Dental Practitioner, By NHS Board Of Residence. Year Ending 30 September 2001p.

  


NHS Board 
  

Median Wait 
  



Argyll and Clyde2


- 
  



Ayrshire and Arran 
  

55 days 
  



Borders 
  

21 days 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

82 days 
  



Fife 
  

52 days 
  



Forth Valley 
  

48 days 
  



Grampian 
  

81 days 
  



Greater Glasgow2


- 
  



Highland 
  

31 days 
  



Lanarkshire2


- 
  



Lothian 
  

26 days 
  



Orkney 
  

52 days 
  



Shetland 
  

28 days 
  



Tayside 
  

74 days 
  



Western Isles 
  

10 days 
  



Scotland2


58 days 
  



  Source ISD Scotland, SMR00.

  p Provisional.

  Notes:

  1. Includes most Maxillofacial Surgery.

  2. Information for residents of Argyll and Clyde, Greater Glasgow and Lanarkshire NHS Boards is not available due to recording difficulties at Glasgow Dental Hospital.

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when omne communication Ltd’s facilities will be fully operational in Dumfries and Galloway.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Omne communications Ltd, currently, have no plans to build an office in Dumfries and Galloway. Rollout of broadband services to Dumfries and Galloway is planned for early 2003.

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any jobs will be created in Dumfries and Galloway as a result of the roll out of omne communication Ltd’s services.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23808 on 20 March 2002.

Digital Technology

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive in which areas omne communication Ltd’s broadband services were available from 25 February 2002.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23809 on 20 March 2002.

Domestic Abuse

Andrew Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the gender of (a) the accused and (b) the victim in cases of domestic violence may be ascertained from information held centrally and what the reasons are for its current system of maintaining any such information on cases of domestic violence.

Mr Jim Wallace: The information collected centrally on incidents of domestic abuse recorded by the police in Scotland does distinguish the gender of both victim and perpetrator.

  Police forces have adopted a common definition of domestic abuse and statistical collection so that patterns of behaviour, including information on gender of both victim and perpetrator, can be monitored and repeat victimisation identified. This enables previous incidents to be taken into account and future protection of the victim and any children to be considered by the police and other agencies.

  The latest available information on incidents of domestic abuse is given in the statistical bulletin Domestic Abuse Recorded by The Police in Scotland, 1 January - 31 December 2000 published by the Scottish Executive in December 2001, a copy of which is available in the Parliament's Reference Centre (Bib. number 18250).

Education

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-23494 by Cathy Jamieson on 12 March 2002, whether any local authorities or other local agencies have plans to involve private companies or private finance in assisting those who are temporarily or permanently excluded from school and what its position is on the suitability of any such plans.

Cathy Jamieson: The Scottish Executive does not hold information regarding any plans by local authorities' to involve private companies or private finance in assisting those who are temporarily or permanently excluded from school.

  Funding allocated by the Scottish Executive to local authorities under the Alternatives to Exclusion Programme of the Excellence Fund is subject to certain conditions. This includes reporting to the Scottish Executive how the allocated funds have been spent. Local authorities have discretion in determining how best these funds should be spent, provided that they comply with the conditions attached to the funding programme.

Enterprise

Alasdair Morgan (Galloway and Upper Nithsdale) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what was spent by each local enterprise company (LEC) to fund mature apprenticeships in the last year for which figures are available (a) in total and (b) per head of population in each LEC area.

Ms Wendy Alexander: This is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise. The Executive does not hold this information centrally.

Enterprise

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has been requested by Her Majesty’s Government to undertake consultation on the inclusion of higher education services in ongoing negotiations about strengthening the General Agreement on Trade in Services.

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation it has undertaken on including higher education services in the General Agreement on Trade in Services and what responses it has received to any such consultation.

Mr Kenneth Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what conclusions it has reached following any consultation that it has undertaken on including higher education services in the General Agreement on Trade in Services and whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government recommending that such services be included in current negotiations on this matter.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is in regular contact with the UK Government on a wide range of issues, including the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS).

  The UK Government has sought the views of the Scottish Executive on trade in education services, including higher education services, in relation to the current GATS negotiations. My officials have consulted Universities Scotland on this and we will be responding to the UK Government in due course.

Enterprise

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its most recent plans are for improving Scotland’s skills base.

Ms Wendy Alexander: Future Skills Scotland has been established within the Enterprise Networks to co-ordinate and communicate current and future skills needs as part of the strategy to match skills supply with employer demand. The new unit is working closely with key stakeholders, such as employers, the careers service and education and training providers, to improve Scotland’s skills base.

European Commission

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S1W-19339, S1W-19397 and S1W-23505 by Ms Wendy Alexander on 26 November 2001, 11 January 2002 and 12 March 2002, whether it will give full details of any direct discussions with Her Majesty’s Government about the impact of the European Commission’s Physical Agents directives on the agriculture and transport sectors and why the information requested was not given in the answer to question S1W-23505.

Ms Wendy Alexander: I refer the member to the answer given to question S1W-23505 on 12 March 2002.

Family Fund Trust

Mr Lloyd Quinan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it awarded to the Family Fund Trust in each year since 1998-99.

Cathy Jamieson: The Family Fund Trust has been awarded:

  


1998–99 
  

£2,02 million 
  



1999–2000 
  

£2,16 million 
  



2000–01 
  

£2,25 million 
  



2001–02 
  

£2,21 million

Fisheries

Elaine Thomson (Aberdeen North) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures have been put in place to monitor the number of members of fishing crews who lose their employment due to the decommissioning of fishing vessels with a view to monitoring whether or not they remain in the industry or find employment elsewhere.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive has no function in relation to unemployed people seeking employment. The responsibility for assisting unemployed people into work rests primarily with the Employment Service, with local enterprise companies also providing training and support

  I understand no additional, special monitoring measures have been introduced in relation to decommissioning. That would not seem necessary. The key issue is that any fisherman who loses his job as a result of decommissioning is given any assistance necessary to find alternative employment.

Genetically Modified Crops

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what size of area was planted with (a) all types of GM crops, (b) GM spring oilseed rape and (c) GM winter oilseed rape and how many trials were carried out for each type of GM crop in (i) 1999, (ii) 2000 and (iii) 2001.

Ross Finnie: Current approvals for the release of GM crops are listed on the Scottish Executive GM website and full details of all approvals are placed on a public register held by the Executive.

  In 1999 the Scottish Executive gave approval for the release of a total of approximately seven hectares of GM herbicide tolerant oilseed rape, in a number of small-scale research plots. The greatest proportion of these were sown with GM winter oilseed rape, while the remainder were sown with the GM spring oilseed rape. No other varieties of GM crop were released in this year. The Farm Scale Evaluation (FSE) Programme had not been embarked upon at this time.

  2000 was the first year of the FSEs in Scotland; two hectares of GM spring oilseed rape and 25.5 hectares of GM winter oilseed rape were planted in the FSEs, at a total of five sites. In addition to this, a total of approximately two hectares of GM oilseed rape was planted in small-scale research plots. No other varieties of GM crop were released in 2000.

  Nine hectares of GM spring oilseed rape, and 29 hectares of GM winter oilseed rape were grown in the FSEs at a total of seven sites in 2001. A total of approximately 3.5 hectares of GM oilseed rape was planted in small-scale research plots. 0.07 hectares of GM potatoes were also grown in 2001 for research and development purposes. This is not part of the FSE programme.

Genetically Modified Crops

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what size of area it intends to plant with (a) all types of genetically modified (GM) crops, (b) GM spring oilseed rape and (c) GM winter oilseed rape and how many trials will be carried out for each type of GM crop for the year 2002.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive does not itself plant GM crops. It has however given approval for a maximum of 23 hectares, in total, of GM herbicide tolerant spring oilseed rape to be released at three sites this year as part of the Farm Scale Evaluation Programme. It is possible that the actual area planted will be less than this. No new applications have been received to release any other GM crops in 2002. Existing approvals permit no more than six hectares of GM winter oilseed rape and no more than 0.2 hectares of GM potatoes to be grown for research purposes on Scottish sites in 2002. It is not possible to know at this stage whether planting will proceed under these approvals, or whether any new applications will be received.

  Current approvals for the release of GM crops are listed on the Scottish Executive GM website and full details of all approvals are placed on a public register.

Homelessness

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how quickly it intends to publish clear guidance, following the Court of Appeal cases in England on 11 April and 25 May 2001 concerning sections 17 and 20 of the Children Act 1989, as to the nature of the statutory duties of local authorities under sections 22 and 25 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 towards children living in families in order to bridge any gap between current legislation and legislation recommended by the final report of the Homelessness Task Force.

Iain Gray: We have no current plans to issue further guidance on the Children (Scotland) Act 1995. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 and recent guidance to local authorities on homelessness strategies, make clear that the best interests of children should be considered in the exercise of local authorities’ homelessness functions.

Homelessness

Mr John McAllion (Dundee East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reassurances it can give that offers of accommodation from a housing association or local authority under the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 will have due regard to the best interests of any dependent children of any homeless person and thereby ensure that no child is ever separated from his or her parents because the family is homeless.

Iain Gray: The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 amends the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 to require local authorities to have regard to the best interests of children in the exercise of their homelessness functions, including the offer of accommodation made to homeless families.

  Guidance issued to local authorities on homelessness strategies sets out, as a key principle, that the needs of children must be considered during the formulation and implementation of policies to prevent and alleviate homelessness. It also emphasises the need to consider good practice in supporting homeless families to prevent disruption to the lives of children and adults.

  Strategies, and their implementation, will be regulated by Communities Scotland.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what average length of sentence was served by people released from serving life sentences in each of the last 10 years.

Mr Jim Wallace: The following table contains the information requested. It should be noted that the figure for any one year can be skewed by the release on life licence of one or more prisoners after serving especially long periods in custody.

  


Year of Release 
  

Average Sentence Served by Life Prisoners 
  by Year of Release from Prison 
  




1992 
  

12 years 7 months 
  



1993 
  

12 years 2 months 
  



1994 
  

13 years 2 months 
  



1995 
  

13 years 
  



1996 
  

13 years 6 months 
  



1997 
  

15 years 3 months 
  



1998 
  

13 years 9 months 
  



1999 
  

14 years 
  



2000 
  

13 years 3 months 
  



2001 
  

13 years 6 months

Justice

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-22764 by Mr Jim Wallace on 19 February 2002, why the information given in the answer differs from that provided by South Lanarkshire Council in its planning application report, considered by the Local Area Committee on 12 March 2002.

Mr Jim Wallace: Question S1W-22764 asked what new facilities would be available after renovation that were not available before. The answer given provided that information and also referred to other upgrading of the court. The South Lanarkshire Council’s planning application report provides further information on the work being undertaken including facilities that are currently available but that are going to be upgraded. For example, the layout of the existing facilities is being altered to provide a more efficient use of space and to create secure routes for prisoners through the court building.

Justice

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on the care and resettlement of offenders, including offenders from outwith Scotland who have resettled in Scotland following release.

Mr Jim Wallace: The arrangements relating to the transfer of prisoners between UK and Islands jurisdictions are governed by statute – the Crime (Sentences) Act 1997 – and apply across the jurisdictions. They enable prisoners to transfer during the custodial part of their sentence, on an unrestricted or restricted basis or to transfer their supervision on licence on release or subsequently.

  Local authorities have a statutory responsibility for providing a range of social work and associated services to prisoners following release into the community in Scotland. The services are provided to enhance community safety and minimise the risk from offenders, including sex offenders and are governed by National Objectives and Standards for Social Work Services in the Criminal Justice System. These have been supplemented by additional guidance on the operation of the provisions in the Crime and Disorder Act 1998, which allow courts to impose extended sentences, thus providing additional post-release supervision for violent or sex offenders where necessary.

  Offenders who are not subject to statutory supervision following release, can receive voluntary assistance in the form of advice, guidance and assistance from the local authorities on release from custody. The aim is to provide a range of supportive services to offenders to assist in the reintegration into the community and reduce the risk of re-offending.

Justice

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on reimbursing the costs of care and resettlement of offenders, including any costs incurred by parties outwith the local authority and police force areas where the offender normally resides.

Mr Jim Wallace: The specific costs incurred by local authorities in assisting offenders in their area who have care and resettlement needs, irrespective of their normal place of residence, are eligible for grant under the 100% funding arrangements for criminal justice social work services. The Executive also provides funding to police forces, through Police Grant, to enable them to carry out the full range of their functions.

Meat Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it has provided in connection with Heather Isles Meats Ltd in each of the last three years.

Ross Finnie: The Executive has provided no financial assistance to Heather Isle Meats in the last three years.

Non-Departmental Public Bodies

Michael Russell (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much the Scottish Arts Council spent on the recruitment of its new director; how this compares to the recruitment costs of similar posts in other non-departmental public bodies, and what guidelines there are on recruitment processes and costs in respect of senior officers in public bodies.

Dr Elaine Murray: The amount spent on the recruitment of their new director is a question for the Scottish Arts Council themselves. Details on recruitment costs in other non-departmental public bodies are not held centrally. New guidance is being devised at present covering the Executive’s sponsorship of non-departmental public bodies. This will include specific guidance on the appointment of Chief Executives and similar posts, and will emphasise the importance of value for money considerations in the recruitment process.

Police

Mr Duncan Hamilton (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is spent by each police force on overtime for police officers and how much such spending is in respect of police officers attending court.

Mr Jim Wallace: The latest expenditure figures for overtime for police officers are shown in the following table. Information on expenditure in respect of overtime for police officers attending court is not held centrally.

  


2000-01
Force 
  

Expenditure on overtime
(£m) 
  



Central 
  

2.5 
  



Dumfries and Galloway 
  

1.0 
  



Fife 
  

1.7 
  



Grampian 
  

2.5 
  



Lothian and Borders 
  

4.3 
  



Northern 
  

1.9 
  



Strathclyde 
  

18.5 
  



Tayside 
  

2.0 
  



Total 
  

32.4

Police

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many police stations have been operated by Fife Constabulary in each of the last five years.

Mr Jim Wallace: In each of the last five years, Fife Constabulary have operated the following numbers of police stations:

  


1998 
  

31 
  



1999 
  

29 
  



2000 
  

27 
  



2001 
  

29 
  



2002 
  

24

Police

Mr Keith Harding (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Fife Constabulary has any plans to close any police stations in its area and, if so, which police stations will be closed.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is a matter for Fife Constabulary in the light of operational requirements.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of a recent fire at HM Prison Cornton Vale, the current fire evacuation system in the prison is satisfactory.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Establishment plans for evacuation were followed and worked effectively.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are in place at HM Prison Cornton Vale to separate drug users from other inmates.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  SPS estimate that up to 97% of prisoners at Cornton Vale are drug users on admission. Cornton Vale at present maintains 27 drug-free spaces in Peebles House.

Prison Service

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what inquiry or other investigations are currently taking place in respect of the recent fire in a cell at HM Prison Cornton Vale.

Mr Jim Wallace: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  An investigation was carried out by the prison’s Fire Safety Officer and the SPS Fire Safety Adviser.

Public Transport

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date the concessionary bus fares scheme will be introduced in each local authority area; whether the scheme will allow for access to bus services beyond the local authority area of pensioners’ residence, and, if so, under what terms and conditions such access will be allowed.

Lewis Macdonald: The Scottish Executive is working with COSLA to introduce free local off-peak bus travel from 1 October 2002 by enhancing existing concessionary travel schemes operated by local authorities.

Rail Network

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish its directions and guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority.

Lewis Macdonald: The current Scottish passenger rail franchise expires at the end of March 2004. The Scottish Executive expects to issue its Directions and Guidance to the Strategic Rail Authority in the course of summer 2002.

Rail Services

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21311 by Lewis MacDonald on 16 January 2002, whether it no longer anticipates that the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 to provide legislative competence to the Scottish Parliament in respect of the promotion and construction of railways will be laid and brought into force during the first half of 2002 and, if so, when the order will be (a) laid and (b) brought into force.

Lewis Macdonald: I currently expect that the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998, to provide legislative competence to the Scottish Parliament in respect of the promotion and construction of railways which start and end and are wholly within Scotland, will be laid during May with a view to bringing the order into force as soon as the completion of the process in the Scottish and UK Parliaments permits.

Rail Services

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in light of any concerns of heritage and tourist railway companies about the costs of promoting private bills, the Light Railways Act 1896 and the Light Railways Act 1912 will remain in force following introduction of the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 on the promotion and construction of railways, and whether order-making powers under these acts will transfer to Scottish ministers and, if so, when.

Lewis Macdonald: The Light Railways Acts of 1896 and 1912 will remain in force following introduction of the Order in Council under section 30 of the Scotland Act 1998 on the promotion and construction of railways which start and end and are wholly within Scotland. Order-making powers under these acts, in so far as they are not already devolved, will be transferred to Scottish ministers as soon as the section 30 Order is enforced.

Recycling

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proposals it has to encourage and promote recycling and composting in remote areas.

Ross Finnie: Under the National Waste Strategy, Scotland has been divided into 11 waste strategy areas. Each area has an area waste planning group tasked with preparing a plan to determine the best practicable environmental option for dealing with waste over the long term. The plans will propose levels of recycling and composting which are appropriate in each area. The Executive has established the Strategic Waste Fund to begin implementing these proposals and distributed £3 million in March 2001 between all local authorities for recycling and composting initiatives. Examples of projects funded in remote areas include home composting, centralised composting, provision of mini recycling centres, kerbside collection schemes and shredding of paper for animal bedding.

  The Executive is also currently supporting innovative projects to promote recycling through the Sustainable Action Grant Schemes, enabling the Shetland Amenity Trust to extend its recycling activities and providing resources to establish a Community Recycling Forum to share best practice across Scotland.

Renewable Energy

Miss Annabel Goldie (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any biomass project under the Scottish Renewables Obligation is currently operating.

Ross Finnie: Three biomass schemes were awarded contracts under the Scottish Renewables Obligation, one of which is currently operating. That is a chicken litter-fired power station at Westfield in Fife.

Roads

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what regulations exist to control the overnight parking of heavy commercial vehicles in residential streets and what powers local authorities have to enforce any such regulations.

Lewis Macdonald: Under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, local authorities have a general duty to secure the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic. This general duty is met by the local authority making traffic regulation orders, which can be introduced for a variety of reasons. This could include the restriction of overnight parking of heavy commercial vehicles in residential streets, with associated penalties.

Scottish Statutory Instruments

Brian Fitzpatrick (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive (a) how many statutory instruments it has made since July 1999, (b) how many such instruments amended existing statutory instruments and (c) how many regulatory forms issued by it have been reviewed for regulatory impact and what the results were of any such review.

Ms Patricia Ferguson: The Scottish Executive has made 1,294 Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs) since July 1999. Statistics are not compiled on how many of these amended existing statutory instruments.

  Where it is considered that a particular instrument could have an impact on business, whether requiring the completion of a form or not, a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) is completed. Of the 1,294 total SSIs, over 70 have been subjected to this review and the resulting Final RIAs have been placed in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Small Businesses

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to assist small businesses in Inverclyde.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Scottish Executive is working with the enterprise networks to stimulate the creation, competitiveness and growth of small businesses. It is doing so particularly through the Small Business Gateway, which is easing access to advice and improving the quality of business support in Scotland, including in the Inverclyde area. There has been an increase in the number of small businesses being supported in Inverclyde since the introduction of Small Business Gateway. The Small Business Gateway Information Centre handled 2,104 business enquiries from April 2001 to 25 March 2002 compared to 1,623 the previous year (through the Business Shop Inverclyde). The local Small Business Gateway advisers are also working with 116 small businesses carrying out Business Healthcheck reviews and helping on a one to one advisory capacity. During 2000-01 this figure was 77. A number of events have been held locally to encourage the take up of advisory support such as marketing clinics and Women into the Network events.

Small Businesses

Mr Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet with representatives of small businesses and what issues will be discussed.

Ms Wendy Alexander: The Executive's Small Business Consultative Group met on 26 March 2002. The group discussed a number of issues of interest to the small business community including: the economic situation; regulation; venture capital funding and investor readiness; and small business research.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21335 by Ms Margaret Curran on 28 January 2002, which members of each Social Inclusion Partnership board have interests that would be declarable if serving as members of a local authority.

Ms Margaret Curran: The information requested is not held centrally.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21335 by Ms Margaret Curran on 28 January 2002, whether members of Social Inclusion Partnership boards are liable to register interests or conflicts of interest in the same manner as those who serve on non-departmental public bodies or as elected members of local authorities.

Ms Margaret Curran: Under the terms and conditions of Social Inclusion Partnership funding, local authorities as grant recipients are required to keep a register of interests, available on request for inspection by Communities Scotland.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-21335 by Ms Margaret Curran on 28 January 2002, what steps it takes to monitor the management by Social Inclusion Partnerships of any conflicts of interest of board members and any others involved in decisions about the distribution of Social Inclusion Partnership resources.

Ms Margaret Curran: The terms and conditions of Social Inclusion Partnership grant funding place a requirement on the local authority, as grant recipient, to maintain a register of interests which must be made available for inspection by Communities Scotland on request.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who the accountable officer is for expenditure on and by Social Inclusion Partnerships and what steps are taken to ensure that the officer is able to monitor any conflicts of interest affecting decisions on such expenditure.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Chief Executive of Communities Scotland is the accountable officer for Social Inclusion Partnership (SIP) funding provided by Communities Scotland, and is answerable to the Minister for Social Justice. SIP boards are responsible for making funding allocation decisions, and for ensuring that these decisions are made in the public interest. Financial guidance on this has been provided by the Executive to SIPs, and the terms and conditions of grant funding issued to local authorities as the grant recipients include guidance on conflict of interest. This includes the requirement to hold a register of interests, which must be made available for inspection by Communities Scotland on request.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive on how many occasions since Social Inclusion Partnerships were established action has been taken in order to (a) withhold and (b) recover payments from a recipient body of funds from a partnership; in each case, which partnership was involved and what level of payments was withheld or recovered, and what the outcome was of any investigations into why payments were withheld or recovered.

Ms Margaret Curran: Details are shown in the following table:

  1999 to Date

  


Amount
(£) 
  

Social Inclusion Partnership 
  

Outcome 
  



64,980 
  

North Ayr 
  

Payment released March 2002 following assurances from the 
  council that audit recommendations to improve systems were 
  being implemented. 
  



97,000 
  

Craigmillar 
  

Payment being withheld pending the outcome of the council’s 
  investigations into potential double counting with EU funding. 
  



174,079 
  

Milton 
  

Payment released September 2001 after the council confirmed 
  allegations lodged of financial irregularities were unfounded. 
  



366,610 
  

GARA (£12,583), Routes Out (£3,515), 
Big Step (£7,088), Gtr. Easterhouse (£70,000), East End(£54,437), 
  Glasgow North (£81,350), 
Gorbals (£5,297), Gtr. Govan (£3,781), Springburn (£1,386), 
  Gtr. Pollok (£18,113), Milton (£2,810), Drumchapel (£18,750),
Castlemilk (£60,000),
Glasgow RP(£27,500). 
  

Payment released following confirmation that adequate systems 
  were in place for 2000-2001 to monitor spend and activities 
  supported. 
  



392,062 
  

Gtr.Easterhouse (£78,525), Milton (£14,100), Gtr. Pollok 
  (£31,103), Springburn (£17,422),
Drumchapel (£47,747, Big Step (£12,825), Smaller Areas 
  [RP] (£19,108), 
Gorbals (£14,425), Routes Out (£7,828), 
GARA (£19,513), North Glasgow (£65,805), East End(£54,650), 
  Gtr. Govan(£9,011). 
  

Payment held pending further information from the council 
  on the detail of activities supported.
 
 
 





27,540 
  

East Ayrshire 
  

Payment released October 2001 on satisfactory completion 
  of council audit investigations.

Tourism

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will take action in order to ensure that links on tourist industry websites for Inverness point to internet pages about the city of Inverness in Scotland and not to pages about Inverness County in Canada, in light of the recent error on www.visitbritain.com reported in the Inverness Courier on 26 February 2002.

Mike Watson: I have contacted the BTA about the Inverness entry on: www.visitbritain.com .

  I understand the link to Inverness, Canada was a human error, which the British Tourist Authority(BTA) corrected as soon as it was brought to their attention. The BTA has apologised for this error and will do everything that they can to ensure that this kind of mistake does not happen again.

Tourism

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much tourism business is estimated to be generated from the internet annually.

Mike Watson: Global e-commerce tourism and leisure transactions are predicted to grow from $2billion in 1999 to $30billion in 2003.

Tourism

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is kept by VisitScotland regarding online bookings made through its website.

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland invests in its website annually.

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what market research has been undertaken on users of VisitScotland’s website.

Mike Watson: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland.

Tourism

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how important the internet is in developing the tourism market.

Mike Watson: It is predicted that tourism and leisure will account for 12% of total global e-commerce transactions by 2003.

Tourism

Mr Andrew Welsh (Angus) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken in order to encourage tourism-related businesses to use the internet as a marketing tool.

Mike Watson: VisitScotland has been running a series of roadshows across Scotland demonstrating use of the Internet as a marketing tool. Further assistance is available from the VisitScotland Quality Advisers.

Whisky Industry

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive,  further to the answer to question S1W-23623 by Lewis Macdonald on 7 March 2002, whether the economic impact assessment will differentiate between Scotland and the rest of the UK.

Lewis Macdonald: I understand that Customs and Excise are considering a wide range of issues as part of their consultation on the costs, benefits and practicalities of introducing tax stamps for spirits, including their geographical impact.